Initially I was quite excited by the release of Elisa 0.3.3 from the team at Fluendo. In general, I like the work Fluendo does - amongst other initiatives they have codecs for sale that alleviate any legal qualms you may have about installing "non-free" video codecs from various locations, they have an interesting Java streaming video applet called Cortado and they provide a reasonably priced online streaming service. So, high hopes for Elisa 0.3.3. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be using this software.
Installation was straight forward, using the Ubuntu package found on their packages page. That's about as far as the good news goes. Elisa installs a link in the Applications > Sounds & Video menu under Gnome. However, the application is clearly following KDE design principles. Immediately I was reminded of the post over at Planete Beranger about useless, annoying cartoonish design icons and effects. That's Elisa 0.3.3. Huge, quite ugly, cartoon-like graphics. The interface could have been so much slicker. Of course it is possible for someone to re-skin the application on top of Elisa's functionality, and I sincerely hope someone will. The default graphics are bad enough, but choosing one of the other two icon themes only makes things worse; didn't anyone teach these guys how to anti-alias?
The other reason I was so keen to try Elisa 0.3.3 is the screaming text on the project's homepage stating that the software will "Automatically detects IPods, cameras, USB hard drives, etc." Great news! I can now finally use my iPod Touch with a Linux application for managing my music. Nope. It's a vicious lie. Connecting my iPod via USB results in the usual pop-up message alerting me that a camera has been detected, but nothing in Elisa. An external hard drive, also connected via USB was recognised correctly, but not the iPod. What a disappointment.
Support from the Fluendo team is also lacking. There is a forum available, where I posted a query about the non-detected iPod, but nobody from the Fluendo development team seems to be answering questions. As of this post, there are 14 unanswered posts in the Help section dating back to January 22nd. Granted, a forum can and should be used by users to help each other, but shouldn't there be someone from Fluendo regularly looking in to help out?
Elisa 0.3.3 - at the moment useful only for kids who like cartoons and don't own iPods
Installation was straight forward, using the Ubuntu package found on their packages page. That's about as far as the good news goes. Elisa installs a link in the Applications > Sounds & Video menu under Gnome. However, the application is clearly following KDE design principles. Immediately I was reminded of the post over at Planete Beranger about useless, annoying cartoonish design icons and effects. That's Elisa 0.3.3. Huge, quite ugly, cartoon-like graphics. The interface could have been so much slicker. Of course it is possible for someone to re-skin the application on top of Elisa's functionality, and I sincerely hope someone will. The default graphics are bad enough, but choosing one of the other two icon themes only makes things worse; didn't anyone teach these guys how to anti-alias?
The other reason I was so keen to try Elisa 0.3.3 is the screaming text on the project's homepage stating that the software will "Automatically detects IPods, cameras, USB hard drives, etc." Great news! I can now finally use my iPod Touch with a Linux application for managing my music. Nope. It's a vicious lie. Connecting my iPod via USB results in the usual pop-up message alerting me that a camera has been detected, but nothing in Elisa. An external hard drive, also connected via USB was recognised correctly, but not the iPod. What a disappointment.
Support from the Fluendo team is also lacking. There is a forum available, where I posted a query about the non-detected iPod, but nobody from the Fluendo development team seems to be answering questions. As of this post, there are 14 unanswered posts in the Help section dating back to January 22nd. Granted, a forum can and should be used by users to help each other, but shouldn't there be someone from Fluendo regularly looking in to help out?
Elisa 0.3.3 - at the moment useful only for kids who like cartoons and don't own iPods
As of today, Sunday January 27th, it looks like someone from the Elisa team has just gone through their forums and posted brief replies to many unanswered topics.
Seems like my so-called "rant" has generated responses on the Elisa, Fluendo mailing list.
http://lists.fluendo.com/pipermail/elisa/2008-January/000394.html
Follow the posts in this thread to read reactions from the Elisa team.
I have to agree with you on this one; I'd heard good things about Elisa so installed it on a Xubuntu box I'm setting up as a media server, but the huge cartoon graphics run really slowly and make it unusable for me.
Anyone know of a decent Linux Media Centre alternative?
I only recently ventured into the realm of media centres for Linux. Elisa appears to be the best solution out there. There is LinuxMCE but frankly it looks ugly and probably does a lot more than the average person wants.
To address your comment on icons and looks. Did you not notice this project is in its development stages? Fair criticism is fine but you tore them a new one. As you mentioned, some one will eventually make nice skins for this program and you will have no issues. Of course if you keep bashing them over silly non-functional crap no one will ever be interested enough to make a new skin. I (self proclaimed child at heart) actually like the graphics - especially since they are being displayed on my low-rez TV screen, as I would expect most media centres are.
Overall I have to disagree with your comments on this one phillc. I'm suprised after all that ranting you didn't check back to see that they've actually listened to your comments (despite your ill-tone).